Plant patent for Delosperma plant named ‘White Nugget’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of  Delosperma  named ‘White Nugget’, the novel characteristics of which reside particularly in its low and compact growing pattern, compact glassy pale foliage, unique white flower, exceptional cold-heartiness, repeated blooming pattern throughout the spring and ability to grow well in a wide-variety of soils and regions.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Delosperma basuticumcultivar White Nugget.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to new and distinct cultivar of Ice Plant,botanically known as Delosperma, and referred to by the cultivar name‘White Nugget’.

The new cultivar was selected from seedlings which resulted from a crossof Delosperma ‘Gold Nugget’ with an unknown variety of Delosperma, andwas selected because of its pure white color and exceptionalcold-heartiness.

The new cultivar was first discovered by Kelly Grummons in 1996 atPaulino Gardens of Denver, Colo. It was then asexually reproduced in1997 by Cheryl J. Vestal at Paulino Gardens. Asexual reproduction of thenew cultivar by terminal cuttings has shown that the unique features ofthis new Delosperma are stable, and are reproduced true to type insuccessive propagations.

The unique characteristics of ‘White Nugget’ have been repeatedlyobserved and are determined to be basic characteristics of thiscultivar, which in combination, distinguish this Delosperma from otherDelosperma species, such as the cultivar Delosperma ‘Gold Nugget’.

An interesting characteristic of this new variety is its low, compactspreading habit. ‘White Nugget’ is consistently lower and moredense-growing than the other commonly grown Delospermas commerciallyavailable and known to the inventor, such as D. cooperi, D. nubigenum orD. foribundum.

Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is the palefoliage. ‘White Nugget’ has slightly less pigment in the foliage thanother ice plants, like many albino sports.

Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is the pure whiteflowers. Flowers of ‘White Nugget’ are pure white and do not contain anyother pigment. All other commonly cultivated Delosperma are pink or animpure white. In addition, other varieties of Delosperma that displaywhite flowers do not display cold-heartiness and are also somewhatshrubby in appearance. These other varieties are easily distinguishablefrom the new variety described herein.

Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is its exceptionalcold-heartiness. ‘White Nugget’ exhibits unusual cold tolerance whencompared to other Delosperma species, exhibiting hardiness to at least20 degrees Fahrenheit below freezing.

Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is its earlyflowering season. ‘White Nugget’ produces blooms in early spring andthey last until well into the summer. They bloom much earlier and alsobloom much longer than any other variety of Delosperma, known to theinventor, except for ‘Gold Nugget’.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principle novel characteristic of the new variety of Delosperma isits pure white flower. The new variety of Delosperma is furthercharacterized by its low, compact spreading habit, pale foliage,exceptional cold-heartiness and early flowering season. All of thesecharacteristics work to provide a variety of Delosperma that is visuallypleasing with its abundance of white flowers and easy to grow due to itsability to spread easily and withstand cold temperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURES

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and leafcharacteristics of ‘White Nugget’, with the colors being as nearly trueas possible with illustrations of this type. The distinctivecharacteristics of the new variety are exemplified in the accompanyingillustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows ‘White Nugget’ in bloom. Some of the blooms are open andsome of the blooms are closed or partially closed.

FIG. 2 is a close up of ‘White Nugget’ in bloom.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description in some detail of the new variety ofDelosperma. All color references made in the description refer to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where generaldescriptive terms are used. The color values are determined on two yearold plant material grown in Denver, Colo. on Apr. 23, 2002. The plantswere grown in a greenhouse during the winter months with average daytimetemperatures of about 55° F. and nighttime temperatures of about 40° F.In May, the plants were moved outdoors and grown in average outdoortemperatures for Denver, Colo.

-   Botanical classification: Delosperma cultivar named ‘White Nugget’.-   Parentage: Clearly Delosperma ‘Gold Nugget’ and possibly another    unidentified species of Delosperma.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—12 to 16 days. The rate of growth of            the roots is approximately 18 cm between May and September.        -   Rooting habit.—Appearance: Fibrous and branching. Form as            netting around root ball. Color: white to off-white.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Compact spreading mound, (10 to 25 cm            spread, 2.5 cm in height) with dense foliage and stemless            flower. ‘White Nugget’ has a basal branching habit and slow            to moderate growth rate.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: single, alternate, Leaf            shape: Oblanceolate, terete, with attenuate leaf base, and            rounded or slightly pointed apex. Leaf margin: Smooth. Leaf            dimension: Range from 11 to 34 mm in length, and 2.5 to 7 mm            wide. Leaf color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green group 147A.            Lower surface: Yellow-Green group 147B. Foliage can take on            reddish overtones due to anthocyanin during the winter cold            months if kept outdoors but stays a strong green if kept            under glass.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Superficially resembles a daisy with numerous            ray-like petals.        -   Flowering habit.—Flowers freely with persistent blooms. A            plant of approximately 18 cm exhibits 20-30 flowers at one            time.        -   Flowering season.—Blooms heavily from March to May with            scattered blooms into the late fall.        -   Buds.—White, RHS 155D pointed, glabrous, 3 to 12 mm in            length, 5 mm across.        -   Flower color.—Upper surface opens a uniform white RHS 155D            and undersurface is also white RHS 155D. The central flower            coloration is white RHS 155D and the flower petals are white            RHS 155D.        -   Petals.—Number: 42 to 57. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire.            Tip: Rounded.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Satiny.        -   Length.—7 to 13 mm.        -   Width.—1 to 2 mm.        -   Overall flower diameter.—18 to 28 mm.        -   Sepals.—Length: 7-13 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Shape: lanceolate            with rounded tips. Number: 42-57. Texture: Smooth.            Appearance: Satiny.-   Reproductive organs: A distinct, five sectioned green ovary that    develops into an almost woody, multi-seeded capsule with one style    protruding slightly from the corolla. Style branches are white.    Filaments are approximately 1.0 cm tall. Anther produce yellow    pollen. Neither seed nor fruit production has been observed.-   Weather tolerance: High tolerance to rain, wind and temperatures    ranging from about −20° F. to 100° F.

1. A new and distinctive variety of Delosperma plant, substantially asherein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty bythe unique combination of its ability to exhibit low and compactspreading, exhibit pale foliage, demonstrate compact glossy foliage,exhibit exceptional cold-heartiness, exhibit blooms repeatedly allspring, ability to grow well in a variety of soils, ability to grow wellin a variety of regions and its novel white flowers.